Water, Wind, Water, Wind and more Watery Wind!

Heron Hide - Unreachable!

We have finally managed to finish off most of the tree surgery which we has been a priority on the countryside sides. Most of the tree damage has been at Warnham and Leechpool Woods which has taken up a lot of time getting all the access paths safe. Sadly we have lost some lovely old tree's such as the Alder below which the Great-spotted Woodpecker's have used to nest in for the last couple of years.

Several's Bottom - Owlbeech Woods

The combination of incredibly damp conditions and high winds always pose problems as tree's are simply pulled out from the ground root ball as can be seen by the tree's below.  Often one tree falls on another and several come down in clumps in such conditions.

Owlbeech Woods - Typical scene

It was sad to visit the woodland sites and see the total destruction of some of my favorite trees but this is all part of the cycle of a woodland and we shouldn't grumble too much. The wood that has fallen over where possible has been left as it has fallen to give the deadwood invertebrates a safe home for the future. Some however have needed immediate work such as this chap below!

Forest Walk - Owlbeech Woods

As I am sure many of you will have noticed the millpond at Warnham has been in full flood and the river system working to its capacity to cope with the unbelievable amount of water which we have been dealt. The peak of the water flow at Warnham was on Christmas Eve. The pictures below are a reflection of how the reserve looked and for the first time in my 5-year tenure as Warden we had to close the reserve!

Tern Hide - Flooded!

Mill Meadow - Flooded!

Dam Wall - As close to the top as I ever want to see it! 

The Sluice - At capacity

Relief Channel - At capacity

So from Christmas Eve we have been through a few more flood events and the water level remains very high with much of the reserve again unreachable unless in waders. Thankfully we have had a break in the amount of fallen tree's so I am able to update the website so you can see what we have been up against over the Christmas period! Finally I leave you with some of John Wilks' photo's of the reserve today...yet another load of photo's with a damp theme...! Many thanks to NH, LW and EB for your help with the clear-up immediately after the flood. Also thanks to JW for the set of flood photos from today.

The Warden's riding out the storm! (J. Wilks)

Millpond Plantation - Completely Flooded (J. Wilks)

With some imagination this is the 1st Boardwalk! (J. Wilks)

Again imagination is needed but this is the other end of the 1st Boardwalk! (J. Wilks)